Merry Christmas! ...Blumen Für Dich!

Hey Everyone!

 Sorry its gonna be a short one today! but were actually gonna go do something for P-day! WooHoo lol. So we definitely had a good week got 18 lessons in and 7 new appointments, were getting the ball rolling! and then watch ill be transfered hahah Well for weather it still has not snowed.. all the germans are in shock haha Its supposed to have snowed already! and like today its raining and its -2°C outside  and still no snow, weird right?? well all I want for Christmas is a white one! So it better happen! lol

Funny story this week, we were doing some tracting and talking to people on the street... then we see this dude riding his bike towards us , and I mean he is all over the place! haha just drunk as can be, someone had a little too much Glühwein! (Popular German Christmas drink). Then he stopped and look at us and said ''Habt ihr eine Frau zu Hause? ( Do you guys have women at home?) and were like no sorry and then he looks at me and says ''Blumen Für Dich'' ( Flowers for you) and he makes me take the bouquet of flowers, so I was like hey I have to give you something... So of coarse! I gave him a book of mormon and we were both happy.. Jeeze though last week some dude kissed me on the cheek (dont know if I included that in last week's Email), then I get flowers from some dude this week... man this is going all wrong! Its supposed to be the opposite way! haha Jeeze! Luck right?

Oh yeah and I went on a exchange with the zone leader, Elder Hardmann! Man he is cool, were gonna hang when we get back! I wish I could serve with that guy, we had alot of fun and of coarse got stuff done.. But we taught this one guy at the church there and I mean we taught perfectly together and my german wasnt choppy it was a good feeling.. then someone even called the church to talk with Elder Hardmann, then he looks at me and is like ill be right back finish teaching, and I was like okay cool so i finished teaching this guy.. and he understood our point perfectly! Ahh It was great! and we made some pretty good chili I must say..and it was perfect for these cold days in germany!

Well yesterday Andrea came to church! Woo Hoo... and she really enjoyed it, so she is moving right along! Im so happy for her! She was just beaming after church, it was really cool to see! Well thats all for today, I got to get moving, Were going to a town called Bad Oeynhausen! and were gonna go clubbin.......... Just kidding but I wish lol. going with a member to the mall there! German clothing or European clothing is the best and its sooo Cheap!! I shouldv listened to ben when he told me at the beggining about it haha

Alright Love you all, Have a great week! Cant believe its almost christmas!

Tschüß
Elder Popp

Hey Everyone!

 Well I'd have to say this week was pretty cool! I was all over the place this week haha from Hannover to Stadthagen to Bückeburg! und Minden of coarse..lol But i had alot that happened this week!

Monday after our Pday we went and visited this dude named Herr Cronemeyer... He is one of our investigators, but everytime we meet with him, He is completely wasted! I mean he is gone lol. Like I always have to stop him from drawing on his table.. Because Ill write things and draw things on a piece of paper so he can understand and he take the pen to show his idea and then all the sudden he will be off his paper and drawing on his table! haha Im like dude! Dont ruin your table, you crazy drunk man...lol i swear it becomes like a game when your teaching drunk people, which sad to say is kinda fun lol                                                           Church in Bückeburg

 Tuesday was boring we did alot of area book work and cleaning...The missionarys before us trashed the apartment so we did like a home makeover, because it was badly needed. Im sure the apartment hasnt been clean for like 10 years haha but now it is and i dont feel like a pig anymore lol. and our Basement/keller is completely horrifying lol. I swear there got to be a dead body in there or something, so were planning to clean that succor out too... Spaß Nah?

Wednesday we had exchanges.. So went I with Elder Locher ( From Switzerland) to Stadthagen to work.. we went by this member family in Bückeburg just outside of stadthagen and taught this little girl about baptism because she is about to be baptised.. that was boring but later we went to go by this other guy for an appointment... and we rang his door bell.. and he didnt answer and we waited a little bit.. than this drunk dude comes up behind us and rings the same door bell... and of course we started talking... he told us ''im need my money from him, and I have come to punch him in the face''  hahah I was trying so hard not to laugh but then he asked us about our church.. and Elder Locher started telling him everything about our church and the guy started crying telling us about all the things he has seen and done, and theres no way back...Elder Locher seriously wouldnt let me talk, I was dying to talk with this dude.. but then this guy turns to me and is like '' Who are you?'' and so i told him my name and that im from las vegas.. He started freaking out like every german does when they hear your from las vegas... then he didnt believe me so i showed him my drivers license... but I got him back on track about how there is a way back through christ... and told him about dumb stuff that i have done and what not and he stopped and looked me straight in the eyes and said '' I believe you'' and then said ''you need to come with me right now and talk to my friends, they need to hear this too and bring your switzerland friend with you'' haha So we went and went to an apartment and there were 3 other guys there.. Elder Locher focused on the other 3 but I focused talking to this drunk guy...(well they were all drunk and smoking lol.) but I talked him and gave him the book of mormon.. told him to read it and it would change his life... and he said again '' I believe you'' and then he wanted me to do some Russian gang sign or something because im now is ''homie'' lol.. But yeah it was a cool experience... another testimony to me, why we shouldnt be robots as missionarys... We need to be open and ''Down-to-Earth'' so to speak... because people open up to you more and you can relate.

                                                                     Minden Innenstadt

Thursday, we had president Interviews in Hannover! So i got my comp back there.. President is so cool! But our interviews are really short because I just have no problems haha I dont complain about anything lol. After interviews we had to fly back to Minden to get to an appointment... and we have to take buses to get to this place because its pretty far away and its pouring raining outside... yeah raining in december in 0° C weather...tell me about it lol. and it still is like that today... but anyways we made to the appointment and realized oops there are no buses back... but somehow a miracle bus came  after our appointment, to take us back to minden! and it wasnt even on the bus schedule! that was sweet

Friday, We went and helped an investigator move some stuff out of her basement.. It was so gay.. we had two hours and told her we had limited time, but she really wanted to organize her basement... so we pulled everything out of this basement... and when we did she started getting mad about how we couldnt stay longer and how she doesnt know how to organize it and blah blah blah lol.. so she told us to just put everything back in....I was so mad, we wasted 2 hours and plus my back hurt and I was hungry Lol.The funny part was she told us at the beginning '' yeah here in germany you actually have to use your head'' and at the end we were like '' yeah you guys really use your heads'' haha Seriously Germans hate americans, its rediculous how much crap we get because were americans...

Saturday, was sad we had 4 joint teaches planned out and every single one fell out... It was imbarrassing to have members come and then not be able to meet, but oh well thats life... Later that night we did street contacting in the Innenstadt... and these punks tried to make fun of us... We walked past them and they asked ''Entschuldigung, Seid ihr Security?'' (Excuse me are you guys security?) and you know me I said some quick witted comment back and they were stumped and so then we started telling them about our church and invited them hahahaha It was great..

and Finally Sunday ( My hands hurt from typing!) I got to bless the sacrament again this week... Thats kinda scary, because I dont want to pronounce the words wrong lol. But i did good no worries! Well Its getting closer and closer to christmas! I miss the lights that hang on peoples houses! No one does that here but the InnenStadt is way cooL and decorated! but yeah thats all i got for this week! I hope you guys have a great week!

Tschüß

Elder Popp

Picture 1: Church in Bückeburg

Picture 2: Minden Innenstadt

Komish Polizei Dude...

Wow im just having a great week! My brotha got his mission call, rebels take down number 1. North Carolina, got a investigator to come to a family home evening activity... Man Was Noch??This week was great Elder Christensen and I Were able to hit 20 lessons again this week and found a new person everday this week as well! Woo-Hoo!

  Alright so monday night was pretty interresting.. We got a call from this russian dude named frank and he wanted to meet with us that night.. so we were like heck yeah! So we meet him up at the Bahnhof ( Train Station) and we walk to his apartment with him... and the whole time were trying to talk with him and he isnt saying much back to us, he was just looking really suspicious... he kept looking back at the road and at his phone.. and keep in mind this is 8 at night.. so its pitch black... and were in the ghetto part of minden..so we get to his apartment and he just stops at the door and is like, somebodys been here.. and he just stands there for like 2 or 3 minutes. than he takes his keys out and starts walking up the apartment stairs...and then hes like ''Shau Mahl''( Look) and is pointing at the ground and there are giant big boot prints... and then he whispers Polizei (Police).. In my head I was like just trip your companion and run for your life... but I decided not to haha so we continue up to his apartment and his door lock is busted and we get in and no ones there but the weirdest thing was his living room... there was a fish tank by the wall and a chair and table in the middle of the room(Like a small folding chair and table) with a small tv and on the tv was a black and white show of LA Cops playing.. and he had a cop radio set up and just a pen and paper on the table... it looks like he just sits there and watches this thing all day.... then on the wall by the fish tank there are just pictures of LA cops.. like 20 of them...me and my companion looked at each other and were like what the heck.. we taught a little but it was just obvious we needed to go, so we did!...There are some crazy people out there..

 The rest of the week was great! We met with Fabio and Carrola, they are members here.. He is Columbian and she is german... They love us because we can speak english.. and guess what there moving to UTah! Im so happy, im gonna go hang out with them one day when I get back...They also made us a thanksgiving feast! We were so surprised, they are so cool!

Yesterday we had a family home evening event for the entire ward and it was bei familie Keil! And We invited our investigator Andrea to it! and she came and loved it! She was so happy afterwards! Andrea is someone who was a old inv. but we made contact with her again and she just loves E. Christensen and I! Oh yeah and we made german cookies with her on Friday that was Fun!

Well Im doing great! I hope everyone else is! Pdog, Im glad your home and I love you buddy! Same thing for you T-Money! Love you guys!

Well as usaual,
Shöne Woche (Have a great week)
Tschüß
Elder Popp

Elder Popp Hast du daß mitgekriegt?

Hello everyone!

 This Week was pretty dang good! We taught 21 Lessons this week, Woo Hoo! Nicht Schlecht! We tried really hard to meet with has many people as we could and look at that 21 lessons! Haha Im happy!

 Alright so On tuesday, we met this way cool lady named, Frau Günter! She is so dang funny! She looked at my name tag and started busting out laughing! and I was like hey fool whats so funny?? and she was like umm do you know what popp even means here in german... and I said ... Keine Ahnung!(No Idea) and she kept laughing and was like im not telling you that... but you know me.. I got it out of her! haha so she gets this bag, blows it up and that bangs her hand on the bag with a loud pop noise!! haha and yelled POP!! haha Oh man we laughed so long! It was way funny... but yeah she stopped meeting with the missionarys because they were too serious and boring.. and now she loves us so we are teaching her again! Are we good or what? who knew people like a little humor right? lol

Wednesday we visited this old lady.. she is 91 years old... and makes you want to just bang your head on the wall the whole appointment lol.. I mean she is sweet lady and very nice but im mean she makes us stay there and listen to her for like 3 hours.. like she wont let us leave.. we try to go and she wont let us... or she gets angry and turns into the incredible hulk... then im sitting there like... oh man I immediately regret this decision! Shouldnt of said we had to go lol..Oh man then we have this lady in our ward that is completely obsessed with americans! im mean obsessed! She knows our birthdates, when we arrived, how old, full names (Except mine, I refuse to give it lol.)...My name is Hauptmann(Captain) Popp to her! lol. but yeah she is a little creepy!

Thursday and Friday were just endless appointments with members and investigators.... we taught 13 lessons in those two days... my head was spinning with so much german conversations lol.. Everyone asks me... Elder Popp Hast du daß mitgekriegt??( Did you get that?) umm no sorry im in la la land right now...lol. Oh man and we visited this old guy as well! and He busted out the accordian and started playing and singing! That was so funny! We were just sitting there and he stops talking and takes out this accordian and starts singing some german/Bayerish song! lol It was cool in the moment I got to admitt...

Saturday was way cool too we had Gemeinde Essen(Ward gets together for a meal)... ahh man we had a real pig! hahaha I knew it, I knew germans would bring a pig! It was just completely roasted and sitting over a pit! haha Im so mad my camera is busted otherwise I wouldv gotten a picture... man Germans and there pigs, gotta love them! lol.

Sunday was cool, the kids did a little singing programm for sacrament... and yeah I was given another talk in sacrament assignment...ON Christmas! Man I cant get away from these talks... I just need to give a really bad one so everyone is just like,, please dont let Elder Popp talk again lol...

Yeah things are going good, they only go bad when I allow it to go bad! and thats just not part of my style... so yeah I hope all of you have a great week and Thanksgiving ( If it didnt happen yet) No thanksgiving here in germany! sad... lol

Schöne Woche

Tschüß

Elder/Hauptmann Popp!

Ziel erreicht!!

Hey Everyone!

 Well this week was great.. good end to the transfer! Well looks like Elder Christiansen & I will be staying with eachother for Christmas... So yeah transfer calls were boring! but should be a good transfer!

 Well what to start off with this week.. hmmm well I think ill say.. I set my first baptismal date with someone last night! haha Woo Hoo! So this guy is pretty cool, his name is Justa! He is from France and is doing schooling here and learning german.. so 2 weeks ago we met with him a gave a book a mormon... then last night we met read alittle out of 3 Nephi, and just ask him to follow what christ taught.. Boom date set.. So Im way excited and we got alot of other good investigators that are climbing there way up to the goal of baptism.. yeah so Ziel Erreicht! ( Goal Reached!) Also we did numbers yesterday for the transfer and we taught 74 lessons for the transfer.. Nicht Schlecht! ehh? ( Not bad!) So were moving along..

 It was funny we got stopped by this guy this week, and he told us how he was Jesus because he was born on the 25th and his mother told him he was jesus! Haha way funny... and then when we ended our conversation we asked his name... and he was like... uhhhh mmmm  Herr Müller! ... oh wait thats a lie! you wont get my name out of me! hahaha I was dying laughing! way funny!

umm yeah.. Im out of things to say... and I had a whole bunch piled together this morning...haha Well sorry this was short! I hope all of you have a great week! and yeah its cold here! like i woke up last night and it was -5 °C... so yeah should be getting snow anytime soon!

Schöne Woche!
Tschüß
Elder Popp

Abenteur Des Lebens!

 Hey everyone!

 Well here I am again, its monday, its foggy/ Rainy... actually idk if its fog or rain but its cold and wet! haha its about 5° C right now and its getting colder and colder.. i am now constantly checking my face for ''Animals'' lol. because i cant feel it lol, but hey its cool to be dressed up like im going to hike Mt. Everest! haha

 This week has been pretty good! We made out 7 new appointments this week, so we hit our goal, not too shabby! haha and had 14 lessons this week not too shabby either...man but these germans are soooo thick headed!! They find thing in life and they stay in it, whether its a job, religion, where they go shopping hahaha but seriously they dont want to change... oh welll, there are prepared germans here, just gotta find them! lol

Well tuesday we had a cool experience happen... I saw a book in german that i wanted at a book store, so me and my comp went there, and while we were there these 2 girls in there 20's that worked there.. asked me if I had a brochure... and dummy me, i thought they meant a brochure for the store.. and so I was like no,, and they were like aww shade!(sch-aww--daa)(too bad).. then it kicked in and i was like oh you mean for our church.. and they said yeah duh! haha so then i said no again lol.. because i didnt have one but only a card and they didnt want that... so then i got this great idea.. im in a buchladen and they have to like to read books! So i gave them the book of mormon! See how smart I am,, and now there actually very interrested! but they had some crazy questions.. I hate the whole ''2012'' thing, and how they ask about it! crazy people lol. It was funny I stopped a guy on the street and asked him what he thinks about Christ.. and he flipped out yelling hail hitler and all this random stuff and started running, yelling other things about hitler haha it was weird... Germans, I tell ya..lol

Well lets see what else... (was noch)... you know as a missionary you cant remember what you did 5 minutes ago... or maybe thats just me lol. but it takes me a while to write emails! Oh yeah we had zone conference this week and also stake conference yesterday.. that was cool.. alot of good talks were given! but Im not gonna write you a spiritual thought you want to know what I did lol. Oh and Saturaday we met with Herr. Weimar.. The Russian guy.. He is way cool! He has read all the way through mosiah and is starting on Alma.. He doesnt want to get baptized until he has read the whole book of mormon, so hopefully he will finish it soon, so he can be baptized!

Honestly everything is going well! Had a great week! I am having my abenteur des lebens
(The adventure of life)Saturday is already transfer calls... Weird.. I swear the mission just gets faster and faster...Alright well thats all I got, it was a scatterbrained email but yeah.. It works! haha Love you all and Have a great week!

Schöne Woche
Tschüß
Elder Popp

Guten Morgen!!

Yep, its me again..This week was a good week! We were able to make out 9 new appointments with people..It was way awesome.. Hey who knew, a little hard work pays off! haha

So this week we do quite a bit! On monday we had a family home evening activity with the Keil Familia! They are so cool! and Sister Keil, is the daughter of Elder Kopischke from the quorum of the 70! Way cool family. So we taught the family about the promptings of the holy ghost.. but since they have 3 young kids, we decided the last thing they want to do, is listen to us just give a lesson the whole time.. so we came up with a cool activity! So We made the dad play heavenly father and he went and hid upstairs and we made the mom the holy ghost, who is going to guide the blind folded kids! Then Schwester Keils brother was there so we made him the world.. And the goal was to listen to the spirit to get back to our heavenly father...and the world would try to tempt them and lead them astray... which actually happened a couple a times haha pretty funny! but not a bad idea huh? E. Christiansen & I came up with that! but that was way fun.

Tuesday I was on splits with a golden.. He is like 1 week out of the MTC... so that was interresting.. He wanted to take control of our day, so I let him... and I let him fall on his face a couple times before I started to take over the Reins haha It was fun to watch.. I realized though how far I have come since I was a golden.. It was actually pretty cool.. because sometimes I think my german is horrible but then im like uhh i only started speaking German 6 months ago and now i can pretty much better not fluent but ya know... people can understand me lol but yeah we had to get to an appointment that was like a 45 min. bike ride and so i followed him assuming that he had been there before but nope... we went 45 min in the other direction hahah so I had to call the person and explain lol.. that was funny... well actually at the time it sucked because there was wind blowing at us the whole time so it was way hard to pedal!  I guess the wind always has to blow at us just because were missionarys! haha

Wednesday I we went to this hispanic ladies house! I was so happy!! because she made us mexican food! YEAH! haha I miss it so much haha but she imports good mexican food and I told her I love Carne Asada so she is making that for us next week! Woo Hoo! haha

Thursday, Friday and Saturday were ppretty much the same because we had alot of finding haha Saturday though we had a awesome miracle happen.. It was like 9 at night and were making our way back from the innenstadt ( Innner part of the city) and this kid like 20 years old starts walking towards us.. and im like oh great here we go.. what kind of smart allec remark does he want to say... but then he asked if we could speak german and if we talk about jesus.. and so we said yes and he pulled out one of our cards that he got 3 months ago and said I had an appointment and i was supposed to get a book and talk more about gods plan... but my dad went into the hospital that day so i couldnt make it.. can I still get the book? .... We were blown away  because the spirit was so strong and we didnt even teach anything.. so it was sweet we made out an appointment and yeah that was the miracle on Becker Straße!

For church E. Christensen and I taught the primary kids about prayer.. that was cool and then we visited like 5 inactive members.. so it was a busy day.. I had such a bad headache! haha but yeah it was a cool week. Well thats all I got!

Schöne Woche
Tschüß
Elder Popp

''Mormonen! Fragt Gott ob, Er zeit hat''

Hey Everyone!

So this week was a way busy week! I dont even know where to start lol. We had atleast something cool everyday!

I guess ill start out with Tuesday, we went to a investigators house named Herr Cronemeyer.. He is pretty cool but was totally wasted and was all over the place..lol I taught him a example that was given in Conference about why we need the book of mormon and the Bible together but he went crazy haha He started yelling and drawing all over the table! haha I was trying not to laugh because he was so drunk, I even thought he was going to hit me at some point... and then he started crying saying lifes to hard.. we were all over the place with this guy but at the end it turned out to be a decent lesson.. Its hard to teach drunk people, which pretty much every other german is drunk!! haha

Wednesday we had alot of fallen out appointments but we had one with this guy, who believes god now called him to fight against us and stand up for christ.. so that stunk, hes now dropped... but pretty funny lesson lol. Thursday we moved a lady into her apartment who is moving into our ward... That was way hard!! Of Course she has to live on the top floor and have heavy furniture! Jeeze! haha my back still hurts lol. Then shes like here have some water and gives us hot mineralwater! haha I mean mineral water doesnt taste bad anymore, I actually like it but when its hot! Jeeze haha might as well give me some ''pop rocks'' to quench my thirst haha

Friday was my birthday and I can say nothing spectacular happened haha.. It was just another day of missionary work, but a member took us out to dinner and she bought me a sick tie! That was cool. Saturday was cool because we walked by this guy who was sitting in front of a bar and he said to us..''Mormonen! Fragt Gott ob, Er zeit hat'' ....direct translation (Question god whether he has time)  haha and I turned to my comp and my comp said ''Auf jedenfall, Er hat zeit'' (Of Coarse he has time), and because we turned to answer his joke, he is actually now interrested and starting crying on the street because he thought it was too late for him to repent...Jeeze people.. its never too late! duh! haha so that was way cool!

Sunday, man E. Christiansen and I had to teach the Elders, and High Priest Class about signs of the second coming.. That was fun.. lol actually it went pretty good, and everyone told me my german is getting better so that made me happy haha sometimes my head feels like its going to explode learning a language! haha

So It was a pretty good week! I was satisfied.. no animals on my face this week though...or so i think lol jk! Alright well I hope everything is going great!  GO REBELS & GO STEELERS!! 

Schöne Woche

Tschüß

Elder Popp 

Du hast ein Tiere auf Deinen Gesicht! lol.

Hey Everyone!

 

Alright so Im officially in MInden after being on a train for 5 hours and lugging luggage around.. that was no fun! I took a train from Glückstadt to Hamburg then from Hamburg to Hannover, then from Hannover to Minden! haha Minden is pretty cool, its a small city but way larger than Glückstadt..Glückstadt had about 11 thousand people and Minden has about 80 thousand... So yeah im moving up in the world..lol!

 

Minden is starting to get more into southern Germany, so yep we actually have hills here lol. But the germans think they are mountains its so funny! I have been asked several times, wie mögen sie unsere bergen? (How do you like our mountains?) lol. Im like those arent mountains come see the west side of the states, youll see mountains there lol. So yeah, my comp is Elder Christiansen. He is pretty cool and he comes straight out of the factory in Provo.. but I have to say he is pretty cool.. and his German is amazing, I will definitely be learning alot this transfer lol. So as for speaking German... I can understand everything people are saying, unless its computer science or whatever haha but yeah its coming along nicely...

 

 So this week here in MInden Has been a Great Start! We hade made out a new appointment everyday and our investigators are progressing... We met with a investigator last night and he was like ``hey look I bought a highlighter because I really like some versus so I want to remember these..`` We were amazed, that was awesome! 

 

So funny story... Ill start off by saying, its getting way cold out here... like 5 degrees celsius here with pouring rain... and yeah im freezing my little ``Las Vegan`` butt off out here lol. So anyways we were talking with this one guy for like an hour on the street and what not... pretty much he was telling us his life story..and this whole time My comp & I are freezing because its like 10:30 and were supposed to be home but we want to teach this guy.... so little did I know that it was so cold I guess I couldnt feel my face hahaha So at a point in the conversation this guy turns to me and says ``Du hast ein Tiere auf Deinen Gesicht!``( You have a animal on your face) lol. So im like what an animal that makes no sense.. I thought it was just a german expression so I turn to my comp.. and he looks at me weird and hes like `` Dude eine Spinner!`` ( A spider) haha so yeah I guess this sucker was crawling all of my face haha that sucked, I hate spiders! Lets just say I broke one of the Ten commandments that night...lol

 

So the ward here is way nice! I really like them.. I guess President Hinckleys son.. Richard Hinckley who just got released as a 70... served here in MInden.. So everyone here is in love with him.. and supposedly he is coming to visit soon haha So thatll be cool.. but yeah we have alot of eating appointments here...jeeze I have to get my Rocky on this winter so i dont get fat!! haha

 

Alright well we have alot going on here in Minden! I feel a baptismal date coming so or a couple baptismal dates coming! I hope all is well back at home... Jeeze can you believe Iv been out 6 months... and I turn 20 Friday! lol CR-uh-AZY!

 

Schöne Woche!

Tschüß

Elder Popp

Tschüß Glückstadt

Hey everyone!

 

 Alright so as you can tell by the headliner... im getting transfered! suck... haha Just when the members are lovin me and investigators are going great! haha Oh well I did great work there haha So now I am being sent to the southern part of the mission... Ill be serving in Mindin..with Elder Christianson.. Im excited for change though so itll be good! Tomorrow ill be taking trains all the way down there haha should be fun carrying all my luggage...not!! lol I gotta say though Im gonna miss Elder Redd! He is the man, just like if I was serving with one of the guys back home lol. but, Im sure Elder Christianson will be way cool.

 

 Welll this week was really good with our investigators.. They are really starting to progress and love reading the book of mormon! Im telling you the book of mormon is key to converting.. So hopefully they will be baptized soon, then I can come back up to Glückstadt to see them! None of them came to conference to watch because it was so far away.. We had to go almost clear down to Hamburg to watch it.. So they didnt want to drive all the way down there..Good thing they are recorded on the internet! :) 

 

General Conference was way good! but, it was hard because of the time difference we watch saturday and sunday all in one day, so that was 8 hours of sitting in a chair... and you know how fidgety I get haha Try that one lynn!! haha but yeah great talks, they stick more out since being on a mission. I really enjoyed them! President Monson is so funny, I swear I just want to hear him speak for 8 hours haha.

 

Yeah soooo...not much happening.. oh yeah! Elder Redd & I were stuck in the Elmshorn Bahnhof (Train Station) last night, It was crazy! Hamburg had a huge soccer game going on so after conference was about the time it ended and people were going home... so everyone was completely wasted! I actually got a kick out of it, seeing everyone dancin and singin! haha but yeah then the stupid NOB trains have been falling out because of strikes.. NOB is a company that provides trains throughout Germany, there are other train companys as well though... but needless to say we had like 4 trains fallout so we were there for hours... it sucked! but will be a great memory! Thats all that matters! haha

 

Alright well I guess my next email will be from MIndin! I will send my Address out next week... ich habe keine ahnung was mein neu wohnung addresse ist! = I dont have any idea what my new apartment address is... yeah so Ich wünsche alles gut mit euch! und Schones Woche!

 

Tshcüß und Bis Später

Elder Popp

Fun Packed Weekend!

Hey Everyone!!

 

 

 Alright this week has been very very packed and way fun!! We had alot going on this week!

 

So this week we met with our investigators Frau Heyer, Herr Joachim and Family Kloss.. and each one of them we had great lessons! Frau Heyer even read 14 chapters in the book of mormon!! I was like no way!!! I was so happy haha Our investigators are really starting to progress, I can definitely see some light coming through.. I will be sad though if I get transfered because this is my 3rd transfer in Glückstadt and I think im up to get transfered... I dont want to because I can see our investigators really starting to grow but If I gotta go, then I guess im need somewhere haha So you will know next week if im staying in glückstadt for my 4th transfer or not..

 

Alright so for the crazy weekend...So saturday we had interviews up in Kiel till about 6 at night.. Its so cool to talk with pres! He is the man! But yeah after interviews Elder Redd & I traveled back to Berlin with the AP's because Elder Redd had a old investigator that was getting baptized! So all day sunday I was in Berlin! It was so cool I got to see the Brandenburger Tor! I send a pic.. but Yeah that was way sick and now we traveled all the way back to hamburg! haha So now im in hamburg! Its been a long weekend and later today we still have to travel back up to Glückstadt lol. But, yeah it was such a fun trip.. I was gonna meet up with Ben but we didnt have enough time... sorry ben! haha Were gonna be comps next transfer anyways...lol

 

But yeah everything is going great here.. Im settled into the mission, just living the life in Germany. Things are started to roll now! Im excited... Jeeze but, every transfer is getting faster and faster, its crazy... alright well I love you all and hope everythings going great!!! MACHT GUT!!

 

Tschüß von Hamburg

Elder Popp

Im Still Alive!

Hey Everyone!

Alright sorry for no email last week! but, yeah im still Alive! haha I was just way busy and was stuck in Hamburg But, Alles geht gut jetzt! Alright so im just gonna tell you how my week went starting with tuesday haha Its just easier to remember what I did during the week haha!

 So Tuesday, I had a Tausch(exchange) with my District Leader and our day was completely wide open! suck... haha but we did alot of finding and managed to help one of the members in her Garden! Lisa Jankowski, she is so cool! I really like helping her, she always makes us delicious food and is way funny to talk with! carrying wheel barrels of sawed off tree limbs, we went and took some pretty sick pictures on the Dike! I love the dike, its so nice!

 Okay so Wednesday was a busy day for us! We had 3 appointments! haha Okay, thats alot here for glückstadt! Its hard to get appointments! haha But yeah we met with a part member family a shared a spiritual thought and after met with Frau Heyer again. It was cool because she says she has no doubt that the book of mormon really comes from god but, she has a hard time recognizing the spirit. So she said '' Ich muss des Heiligen Geist finden!'' I thought that was cool because immediately after she prayed to feel it and hopefully if she keeps reading and praying everyday she will recieve a witness that this is the true church! I know she is definitely on the path to finding out the church is true the more she read the buch mormon.

Now to thursday! We met with a investigator family, the kloss familia! It has been like 3 or 4 weeks since we have met with them! I was so excited to see them, they are so cool! They missed having us around, so thats a good sign! Man I love this family! They would be such awesome members, I know it! So right now our game plan is just to serve them, help them out with things around the house, help their son kevin with his English homework haha.. Building trust is the key and not just sounding or acting like some robot! They will be baptized sometime I know it!

Friday we had a district finding activity in glückstadt. It was fun, Elder Cloward and I decided to team up and go do some finding. I knew Elder Cloward from the MTC, he was only 6 weeks behind me, but yeah i cant remember if i told you about him already. lol So while E.Cloward and I were walking out of my apartment, we found this random crab in the middle of the road! haha it was pretty big! Ill include a picture of it with the email! haha

So Saturday was way fun! We had a Church cleaning party and grill. It was fun to clean but there are so many spiders here its rediculous! Its like the movie Arachnaphobia! (Probably spelled wrong lol.)There everywhere! Its so much fun when the members love you! Everyone loves Elder Redd and I, we have a good relationship with the ward! They fed us so much though. Oh man, I was gonna die with so much Bratwurst,hähnchen, and Steak... Oh man it was so good though! Germans can grill! I got to say though the american style steaks I think are better! I mean dont get me wrong these are delicious but, there are just some things about an American Steak! haha

Last but not least Sunday! Well they finally got me here in glückstadt, yep I had to give a talk..haha Actually it wasnt as bad as I thought it would be. I always have to crack my jokes, you know me haha. but yeah Im finding my german getting smoother and smoother. Its way cool! But yeah I talked about prayer and how it is important in our lives and why we need it! so yeah and after we went to the Bast family's house for mittagsessen! mmmmm It was so good lol. The bast are such a cool family! It was cool though because elder redd was in the other room talking with bryan bast( who leaves on his mission to minnesota in 2 weeks) and I stayed in the living and talked with the rest of the family. It was awesome though because I was by myself talking... Didnt need any help translating or saying things... I guess that was like my aww moment when I realize hey I know what there saying!! and they know what im saying! hahah Lifes good thats all i got to say! Oh yeah and Elder Redd is awesome. PERIOD! lol

Alright everyone I gots to go!

Ich liebe Euch! Schönes Woche!

Tschüß

Elder Popp

Getting The Show On The Road!

Guten Morgen!

Well im sure all of you are asleep right now because of the time differences but its a really nice cloudy rainy morning here! hahaha Well my new Companion Elder Redd is way awesome! We get along way good! I could totally hang out with him after the mission. We have a good time together and we both love to cook. So we make some really good food! haha I love it! I especially love making KäseBrotchen! its so good! Its just a roll with cheese melted on it. One one true weekness! haha

Its a little weird though now because I have been in glückstadt 3 months and I know everyone so now I have to show Elder Redd around and introduce him to investigators and what not.. also I have to call and answer the phone for investigators and members.. So yeah i was so nervous at first because i thought my german was good enough but I actually could speak with them in a conversation so I am way happy about that!

Alright so this week was a pretty slow week again! jeeze, throw me a bone here haha Not to many people are interrested here in glückstadt but me and Elder redd are gonna get our bikes fixed and door out all these little small villages around glückstadt so im way excited to do that because no one else has doored these doors! haha

This week we had a meeting with Herr Joachim! He is way cool and down to earth. This was our 2nd appointment with him but this one was really a great lesson. We explained the book of mormon to him and He seems to really enjoy reading the book of mormon. We also taught him how to pray and he prayed for us at the end of the meeting! I was so happy! I could really feel the spirit when he said the prayer. I am excited for him to find out that this church is true and that he can recieve the joy that we have as well! So as soon as we finished our meeting, he was asking for us to come back and teach him more! So I cant wait for thursday!

Man im gonna have to go blow up a car or something to make my emails for interresting! haha Im sorry, but thats all I got! Hopefully next week will be more exciting! Ich Liebe Euch!

Tschüß

Elder Popp

Tschüß Elder Weitzel

Hey Everyone!

 

 Alright so this week we had transfer calls, so I will be staying in Glückstadt making it my 3rd transfer here and Elder Weitzel will be leaving to Dresden. Elder Redd is now going to be my companion! I havent met him yet but i have heard he is way cool. So im excited! I will pick him up in Hamburg tomorrow and take him back with me to Glückstadt. Well, Im officially not a Golden anymore or a Greeny so to speak. That feels weird, I still feel like a Golden haha But now I got to step up and show Elder Redd around and introduce him to our investigators and ward! So im excited!

 

 As for this week not much happened! It was a total finding week! We found a couple of promising people and I also did alot of work in the area book so i could prepare stuff for me and Elder Redd to do. So not much haha So I had my first alcohol filled chocolate this week at someones house! haha Yep totall surprise! Bit right into it and it exploded with vodka haha good stuff! Hey lynn maybe Ill send you some of these chocolates, you know just to help you stay awake while driving hahah NOT!

 

Also I went on a Tausch with Elder Cloward! Elder Cloward was in the MTC with me but was 6 weeks behind me.. So he was the newest group when I was the Oldest haha yeah so our companions had leadership training and we decided to tausch together haha It was pretty cool! It was hard to talk with people because our german is not the best but it worked out and we did awesome! It was cool to already have tausched with someone i knew in the MTC!.

 

Its been raining alllllll week long! like a straight up down pour for the whole week. It was tough to talk with people because no one is outside! Oh yeah and saturday we did a service project for Schwester. Jankowski! We pretty much go over and help her every saturday. She is way cool! But we are building her an Attic. Its way fun, except that there are spiders everywhere. I hate those things!  Then on Sunday President Pimentel came and visited our ward and gave an awesome talk! It was cool to have pres. visit!

 

Alright yeah so this is a pretty dry email, sorry for that! Ill try and do something crazy with Elder Redd this week to have a cool story! haha

 

Ich liebe Euch! Shönes Woche! Alles Gute!

Elder Popp

Gangs of Pinneburg

MOAN MOAN!!

 

  Alright so this week was a complete finding week! It was hard, ill put that out there right now! haha but very rewarding! We found a couple new investigators, so im stoked about that. The best thing that happened this week, was i found the key to happiness on my mission... Its a little thing called ''WORK'' haha I just really enjoy working right now.. My first 2 months in germany, i completely hated doing doors and talking with people, because it was weird and different. I didnt like how people always stare at you and yell stupid things. It was hard, but it was only hard because everytime i went out i went, jeeze i have to talk to more people and do doors its gonna suck! but now i can see the slow shift of things. My german is getting better, i can understand people and talk, im not afraid anymore to talk to people or do doors, and then all the sudden this missionary work isnt so bad. Its actually really fun and you can really feel the blessings its amazing!

 

  We have a couple of investigators right now but I feel that best way to teach them is to become friends, find them friends in the church and then humanitarian service. They will eventually open up to us because it will build trust. I find trust as a major key point to conversion, and also that they can see that you are completely trying to help them instead of just trying to throw the gospel in their face and baptize them. Teach People Not Lessons!!!

 

 This week i went on a tausch with my district leader Elder Mcchallester in  Pinneburg.. It was way cool! We taught this guy who can speak a little english but all araibic! Im telling you that language is so sweet! I might try to learn it, like half of germany speaks araibic, so i could definitely use it haha Then we went to the Pinto family and visited! Such a great family, father is originally from Peru and his wife is german. The whole family can speak spanish, english and german! even like the little 5 year old! Im so jealous! haha They made us a peruvian soup, it was so goood!!! I want the recipe! After that we went into the Instadt (inner city) to start talking with people because we needed to find a ballard. It took forever we were finding till like 9:30 in this ghetto! so yeah were walking down this street to get our bikes and we see like 60 kids way far down the street completely wasted, and partying. So i was like lets cross the street, but E. McChallester said no lets just walk through them.. so we did, as were are getting closer on the other side of the street was this gang about 18 of them and they were shooting pictures or something, throwing up gang signs and they had masks on.. Like the gabbawakkees (dance crew.. look up on google).. It was scary because they were yelling stuff, one chucked a beer bottle, so we ran! haha ya scary stuff.

 

Yeah so it was a great week and they only keep getting better, with a couple of crazy experiences! haha

Ich liebe euch u. shone woche! MACHT GUT!

Tschüß

Elder Popp

Listen For The Spirit!

Hey Everyone!

 

 This week was awesome! Elder Weitzel and I did alot of teaching this week and found alot of really cool down to earth people! We are really excited for these people! This week has been non-stop rain! Havent seen the sky all week! haha but I love the rain! I cant believe summer is over! its starting to cool down here really fast... Getting down to 8 degrees celsius which i believe is like 45 degrees fahrenheit... not sure haha im not to smart when it comes to that! so its slowly starting to cool down... 45 degrees feels so good compared to the 100 degree weather in las vegas! haha

 

 So Tuesday we went and met this man named Herr Joachim. He is way nice and very interested. He is also very ecited about reading the Book of Mormon! We taught him the 1st lesson about Joseph Smith and the Restoration, also about Priesthood authority... You always get a blank look when you ask someone, dont you think we did gods authority to baptize people in his names son? haha They are like whoa! Never thought about that... and im like yeah I know! haha He had a ton of questions too, and we answered them all for him and he didnt seem to object to any! Im excited, he sounds way promising. I just want to see someone get baptized and feel goods love! After that Appointment we met some other guy who was completely insane!! Thats all that needs to be said and I wont be going back there haha

 

Wednesday we had our usual meeting with Frau Heyer. She is starting to come around. She said she has no doubt that book of mormon comes from God, but doesnt feel like she has recieved an anwer that the church is true. We  try to explain to that that feeling she has of having no doubt that the book of mormon comes from god is her answer but, she doesnt think so. We are also still trying to get her to come to church because we know that hif she comes, she will love it and be baptized!

 

Thursday, we had Zo-Co! It was a way good meeting! President Pimentel is a awesome president! Im glad to have him as my mission president!  After Zo-Co I went with the Zone Leader Elder Stevenson up to Kiel to do a Tausch(Exchange) with him. It was way funny though, we took the wrong train and got back to Kiel to only 30 minutes of talking to people. So, we ran over to the university living quarters to do some doors and we totally made out 4 appointments! haha It was insane! The last one was way cool though, because we had to leave and E. Stevenson and I were walking down the stairs of the University apartment complex and I had this feeling to stop at the floor we were on and do one more door. So we did and as we were walking the door right behind me opens up and I turn right around and start talking to him! It was so cool, he was way interrested and wanted the book of mormon! That was a cool experience!

 

Lastly, Saturday we had a awesome day! Elder Weitzel and I were sitting in our apartment for lunch and i got this feeling that I need to get out of my chair and start walking on the Dike next to our river. (Our river is like a mile wide or more so i dont know what to call it haha) So we did and we found two people interrested in our message and want to come to church this Sunday! So im so excited about finding all these people this week! It was awesome! LISTEN TO THE SPIRIT!!! I dont hesitate now when i think we should go somewhere or do something! The biggest thing is JUST DO IT! you will have awesome experiences!

 

Well, die missions arbeit gehts vorwärts hier im glückstadt! Getting close to the end of the transfer! I hope I stay in glückstadt for a while! like 6 months! That would be totally fine with me because everything is starting to pick up! My first 4 weeks in glückstadt i wanted to get transfer because it was so dead here, we were just walking around all day talking with people but making no appointments... Now I can atleast speak enough german to talk and make appointments! haha Im happy!

 

Ich liebe euch und hoffe alles gute mit euch!

Tschüß

ELDER POPPNIZZLE!

Adventures To Heidelburg!

Hey Im back! Again lol.

 

 Okay so this week was pretty awesome! We shall start with monday haha Monday we had our normal P-day but instead of going back to glückstadt we decide to stay and eat with the elders in Elmshorn with a lady name  Schwester Raezka! Man she makes good food, but way toooo much!! and she expects us all to eat it all haha So last week I was the tank of the group, tank meaning I eat more potatoes and gravy then everyone else lol. She makes so much potatoes that no one can eat anything else because they are so stuffed. Anyways, so i voluteered to be the tank because i like potatoes and gravy haha I IMMEDIATELY REGRET THAT DECISION! hahah Sis. Raezka likes to surprise us with something extra every week. She brang out these fish biscuits haha (actually i dont know why im laughing)... She bought some raw fish blended it in a blender then make the like biscuits....... I think thats all i need to say lol. I almost threw up because i ate way to many potatoes and i could eat a raw fish biscuit haha. but I managed to push through it. So yeah the fun experiences as a missionary!

 

 So Tuesday through Friday was hard! We did alot of finding time and no body wants to listen to us... Sucks! but we keep extending the invitation and the book of mormon so everyone has the chance.. Its hard because glückstadt is so small that people get mad at us because we have already talked to them pretty dang hard... Im like sorry i dont remember you! I talk to like a million people a day haha oh well, but it is fun to be here! I really like it.

 

So Saturday was completely Awesome. I got to go down to Heidelburg, which is in the frankfurt mission haha I got to leave mission boundaries! haha Im so cool! anyways, we got to stop in frankfurt on the way! It is so cool, alot of high rises and stuff! reminded me of las vegas! It was way fun! So I went to heidelburg to get my patriarchial blessing, I was a great experience! Brother Duncan was the patriarch there, he was really nice. After my patriarchial blessing, brother duncan wanted us to go with him for a joint teach on the american military bases in heidleburg.. We went and they didnt let me in because i didnt have my real passport with me.I had a printed copy, so that sucked! I even had my drivers license and they didnt accept it! Oh well, but It was a awesome trip! Oh on the way back our train broke down and lost power so we were stuck on a train for 2 hours waiting for a rescue train haha we were stuck on this huge bridge too! It was crazy! so a different train came and they made like a ladder between the 2 trains and we climbed over! Way cool! I felt like james bond! haha

 

Well not much happening here, same ol missionary working! Praying, Praying, Praying, Working/Finding, and Teaching! Still a little tired from the train ride, it was like 17 hours on trains so i got a hangover lol. but, Im doing well!

 

Ich hoffe alles gutt mit euch! Ich liebe euch!

Tschüß

Elder Popp

Konnen Sie die Wind Sehen?

Hey Everybody! ( Guy From The Simpsons Voice lol.)

 

 Alright so I Have Officially Completed my first transfer! Its not even funny how fast the time goes by on the mission like jeeze! So Ill be staying in Glückstadt with Elder Weitzel so everything is still the same! I really like Glückstadt plus our apartment is sick! Supposedly the biggest in the Mission! Well Elder Gibson is moving out of my zone so thats sad but ill still be able to call him and were gonna be Zone Leaders together anyways so no worries there lol.

 

 Alright so this week we did a district activity in Glückstadt. So me and Elder Blauer decide we should split together haha He is only two transfer ahead of me. But it was cool! We did awesome work! We talked to this crazy guy, He said he doesnt believe in anything, but good energy and bad energy and then related it to something about cars that made absolutely no sense hahah I was trying not to laugh! sometimes I wonder what goes through peoples heads! Einige Menchen Kinder! anyways....but he said that faith is non existant but that its all in peoples mind. so we tried to explain the "Can you see wind" anology and what do you think he said... Of course! I can... Then he pointed to some trees and said look the leaves are moving... Im like dude you cant see wind!!!!! AHH! So long story short i wanted to kick the guy in the jimmy and walk away but it was still a funny conversation. Maybe he will come to his senses and take a look at the church website!

 

 Then we talked to this other guy he was walking his German Sheppard. He didnt wanna talk about anything, actually he was pretty rude and kept walking, but I had a feeling to ask him about his dog... So i did, then we started talking and he asked where we were from... Once I tell people im from las vegas they automatically love me and want to play poker with me hahaha... Germans like to play card games.. So we are meeting with him this thursday haha Hey if you gotta play poker to get in the door than do it!! The spirit told me to go play poker with this man, so I cannot deny what I was told to do LOL!

 

Besides that Just another normal week. This weekend was another rain storm. Pretty much my umbrella is useless because im mostly fighting to hold on to it and the wind will just pull me!! It pulled me like a good 10ft the other day! I thought I was cool haha

 

Well im so excited going to Heidelburg and Frankfurt this saturday to get my Patriarchial Blessing! Gonna be way fun! Well I love all of you!

 

shönes woche!

Elder Poppp

Rain, Rain, and More Rain!

Hey everyone!

   Well, Life is good here in Glückstadt! I really like this little town! Its way fun! Well I have to say I have the best district! Its so much fun being with them! We do the dumbest stuff! haha Ask ben! I mean Elder Gibson lol. but yeah Im having alot of fun! Well my first transfer is pretty much over! We get transfer calls on Saturday so thatll be cool! Im so excited!
 
   So this week, We met with a few investigators: Frau Heyer, She is like 70 years old but we go over there every wednesday and she is so nice! she always feeds us stuff from the backery! But besides that, she has been meeting with the missionarys for like 4 months or so, and now she is actually reading the book of mormon without us pleading to her to read haha So yeah its cool to see people progress. I think the biggest thing she has to deal with is, Why should I join this, Im about to die kinda feeling. So yeah that Kinda sucks but were working with her. Next is Olaf, Olaf is a member but the rest of his family isnt. So we meet with them weekly as well! They are way nice, except we go on tangents about star trek or star wars all the time haha and who would win against each other haha Way funny! We have other investigators but we havent been able to make a appointment out with them so hopefully we can this weekend. Since its such a small town, they do alot of community get togethers or partys lol. So people are always gone at those and its hard to talk with people in those because they are so drunk off their rocker they can barely walk haha People Drink more beer here than water its crazy. Actually i think beer is cheaper here than water! Lol.
 
   Well since Iv been here its been raining alot! so mom I tried using the umbrellas u gave me, but they had no chance with the germany rain!! haha So i had to buy a legit umbrella! It rains like buckets, I cant even explain how hard it rains! like it hurts if it hits you because there is so much lol but on friday we got rained on so hard. It was flying horizontally, like how it does for Nate Waggoner! There was like no way we could go out! It sucked so we were inside for a long time, then it cleared up a little, or should I say eased up lol. So we tried to go outside and as soon as we went outside and were like a mile or two from our apartment, We get hit by a huge rain storm again lol. As Lynn would always say CRRRAP!! hahaha Papa Lynn I miss you! haha But yeah so plenty of fun, excited, tough experiences here in Germany!

  Alright so we went and did gardening work for some member here. So how it works here, is people buy house property and then they will buy like gartening property somewhere in the meadows or what not. So we drove out to here garten, man this place was a mess! haha So we went to work. I showed my companion how to use hedgeclippers and lawnmower and what not lol! Im glad I actually know how to work, because that was a tough day for my comp. I was like this is fun! I like cleaning up these gardens! I always like the look of things after you work hard to make it look good! lol. So, the garden is on a acre and surrounding the garden is like a wall of bushes, so I hedged all of the way around it! Man I was pooped! because the germans, they want everything done in order, or neat looking. So it needed to be in a perfect square shape , with the edges shaved down lol So I felt like Picasso!  Needless to say it was hard, but something different than knocking on doors, so I liked It!

 Well, Thats pretty much all for this week! Oh yeah so if any of you have ideas for object lessons, Send them to me! I will definitely use them. I like object lessons! at first my comp was like thats a dumb idea to do it. Im like well lets test it out, If it sucks then we wont do object lessons. But seriously everyone loves them! So if you got anything let me know!
Well I love all of you! Ich bete für Euch täglich ( I pray for you (all) daily)
Tscüß
Elder Popp

Hallo Buddy der Elf. Was ist Ihre Lieblingsfarbe?

Hey guys!

Alright well another normal week here in Glückstadt! haha Well actually we had quite a few appointments this week so it was way cool! We are trying to work with the members more now because I was tired of doing stupid work and decided to say hey why dont we be smart and work through the members instead of knocking doors and street contacting for like 5 hours! Man i would be so dead at the end of the day. So now we are setting up appointments with members and getting referrals and eating so Alles Gut!!! We just trying to get people to come to church right now, but the Germans are stubborn! Now I know where I get it from! lol

So your probably wondering what the title of this letter means. I know all of you know what movie it was from. So we were doing some contacting in some apartment complexes and the people have to ring you in. so you can get into the apartment. so my comp was just going down the list of people trying to get someone to let us in and said hey let me try one. So i rang this persons name and they answered and I said Hallo buddy der Elf. Was ist Ihre Lieblingsfarbe? hahaha and they let me in! haha Awesome huh?! see you gotta have a sense of humor with people and they will let you in. You cant be too serious, like its all about business. I like to have fun with things! So yeah we got to talk to some people that was cool!

hmm what else... Still walking alot. Went to Hamburg Thursday for Mission Tour. Had a 70 come in to speak to us. Yep saw ben again haha! So yeah that was way cool. Not much happened this week. Nothing really crazy. Just crazy german people who dont believe in god or anything. Its tough. People just seriously laugh in our faces, which makes me just wanna go all kungfu panda on them but I cant. haha The Germans Womens Soccer team lost so everyone is pissed right now lol. Im happy because the USA Womens Soccer team is doing good and the germans here make fun of americans and how we cant play soccer! Well Look Whos Still Going For The Cup!! haha

Well Sorry for the short letter this week not much happening! I cant believe Iv been in Germany for 1 month its crazy! My first transfer is almost done. Seriously the mission goes so fast! haha Alright I love you all! Ich hoffe alles Gut!
Tschüss
Elder Popp

Carefull to what you walk into!

Hey Everyone!

Was ist los! Alright so this week has been pretty crazy! but really fun! So last Tuesday it was blazing hot, not like las vegas dry heat but when its 95 degrees with 100% humidity it really sucks! haha I litterally was drenched the whole day in sweat it totally sucked haha but that whole day we did like 5 hours of knocking on doors because we wanted to knock out this area. Man it was hard! like seriously no one believes in god here! Like not at all. It drives me insane, and then when you do find someone to actually stop and talk, they start talking about there church and how it is centered on Christ but then they dont wanna talk about Christ. Like its something they dont believe, its the weirdest thing Idk how to explain it. Oh well, Ill I can do is provide people the chance to here Christ gospel, I really want to help them but I cant do anything if they dont accept it.

So on Wednesday and Thursday I was on a Tausch ( Exchange) with our Zone Leaders. I was with Elder Grange. He is so sick! We had so much fun and he taught me alot! We had a way good time. We went and stopped at alot of familys Houses. There is a guy named Olaf in our ward. He converted I think like 1 year ago. He had some brain problem that put him in the hospital and the doctors told him he wasnt going to be able to walk or talk again. He told us he couldnt accept that so he made himself speak and learn how to walk again. Now if you see him you wouldv never guessed something like that wouldv happened. Yeah so he is way cool! he loves Star Trek, so we talked with him about that haha He seriously knows every actor who has played in every show and every movie for Star Trek. haha Its funny. There is also the Bast Family. They are seriously the coolest family ever! They help so much with missionary work and they help me alot with my German because they can speak english as well. Their son Bryan got his mission call to minesota so they are really stoked about that and he leaves in October! I told him to start brushing up on american football because Minnesota has a big football program hahah. but yeah I could go on with people in the ward that are awesome.

We have this family investigators right now named the Kloss family. Way awesome family. I love them they are so cool! They are progressing very nicely, its just the husband had a seriousy accident that knocked him silly, so he has a speach impedement now and it is hard for him to put words together. so he doesnt know why god would allow that to happen. but he is slowly starting to come around! Im way excited because we are having a big family home evening with them tonight ( my idea), and we got the Bast familie and the kloss together with us and were gonna play soccer and bbq and share spirtiual thought so IM WAY EXCITED!! haha

Well me and my companion had a interresting few door approaches! so were walking up to this house and two old people are out laying in chairs sun bathing. and I saw them in a split second and went oh crap they dont have clothes on. and my comp kept walking.... im like ELDER ELDER ELDER!!! hahahahah and he keeps walking up so of coarse im not gonna leave him alone and sure enough! Boom! there they are just out laying out nude. Yep that was just a lovely sight. two old naked people, just great. but the funny thing is my companion decides to start talking to them. So im just staring up in the air while my comp asks them .. what christ means to them? and the just laugh and tell us to go away.. Oh then literally two doors down the road, we get this women who answers the door naked. Im like wholy crap, dont tell me that this is a fad or something hahah. So yeah great stuff.... Not! haha So moral of the story.. Be carefull what you walk into!

So today im going to Hamburg again! were going to see this train Museum or show idk supposedly its a big thing that people come around the world to see. But someone in the ward hooked our district up with tickets so we get to go free!! Im so excited!

Well germany is awesome! Im having so much fun, The only problems here are there are like so many bumbs and drunks walking around and it gets kinda creepy. Oh and seriously they have billboards with pornography on them.Really! Im not joking. I couldnt believe it when i saw it! I really just hate Satan. Im glad im doing this to take him out! haha Alright well my family and Friends I love you and miss you. I hope everything is going well at home and in the other mission fields!

Gott Sei Mit Euch
Tschüss
Elder Popp

Party in Hamburg!

Hey Everyone!

Well its weird Iv already been in Germany for 2 weeks! The weeks go way faster here in the field than at the MTC. Plus its way more fun! Alright so today!! Im in Hamburg! Yeah buddy! Our district decided to take a trip down to hamburg to do some sight seeing! We went to some bar here called sams bar. I guess one of the beatles first gigs were there. So that was pretty cool! Yeah but, Hamburg is huge! I love it! Hopefully i can do a transfer or something here! That would be way awesome! I think were gonna go to the docks sometime today. Just really enjoying the German culture so its way cool!

Alright so news this week. Really not much happening! haha We dont have many investigators. Glückstadt was dead on arrival! So we do alot of street contacting and knocking on doors. Its been taking a bit to getting used to it. Like I was way out of my comfort zone when i first started and yah i still am hahah, but ya know itll come around Im not to worried. Im starting to understand people here! Its awesome! My first two weeks here I couldnt understand anything. It sucked! haha but now i can start to pick things up and speak a little. Supposedly i dont sound like an American when i speak German so thats pretty cool! A couple of Germans on the street have told me that haha. I did have someone tell my companion to go back to America and then he looked at me and was like go back to Mexico or wherever your from! hahah I guess i have a darker skin tone? I dont think so but Oh well! That was way funny! haha Were still walking like 20 miles a day. Some serious mileage! Like my feet are toast at the end of the day! The good thing though its really green here and there is alot of shade here! Otherwise, I would be dead already! lol.

Okay so funny story! Yesterday we had a sunday afternoon eating apointment with this old lady named Frau Stoll. I dont think i have ever ate so much in my life!!  So germans, they dont bring out all the food at once. They bring it out like if you were at a restraunt. They will bring like a soup out first ( hers was a chicken dumpling soup), then the main dish, then 2 deserts after that. So her soup was really heavy food, like I would be used to just eating that for a meal. Then we fill ourselves with the soup and then she brings out the main dish, and its like white rice with the sausage balls and like some funky tasting white curry sauce. So we started eating that and everytime we would clear our plate she would put more right on our plate. Like she would watch us eat then she would put more as soon as the last bite was done. Neither me or my companion could understand her because she had a weird dialect to her german and slurred it. So we couldnt tell her we were full because she didnt understand. Needless to say we finished this crazy amount of food. Then we were like sweet we conquerred this.....and then she brings out this like log of ice cream probably equivalent to 2 quarts of ice cream. and we had to eat the whole thing. I tried so hard to eat everything it was so hard to finish that ice cream. Then she just gets up from the table and goes back into the kitchen and my companion and I look at each other and were like OH NO... Out walks this massive Cake/Pie I dont know what to call it. At that point I thought my heart was going to stop beating from so much food. haha So we ate one slice of it and couldnt take anymore in... so she just packaged it up for us to take home. I seriously thought I was going to die! haha That was a fun eating appointment. You are always suprised what the Germans will bring out of the kitchen for you to eat! So the moral of the Story. Pray for help before going to eating Appointments!! haha.

Im so excited for this coming Saturday! I get to hang out with Ben for a while! Its gonna be so fun. Me and ben are really only like a hour away from each other so maybe we ll do something for p-day together one day! Well Germany is so cool! I am constantly seeing things that are way cool to see! Im like that dog in the movie UP... Squirrel!!!!.... hahah everything here is awesome! Alot of history and alot of really old churchs that have been bombed out and restored! so its really cool!

All is well here just chugging along. Starting to get the hang of this missionary stuff. Like some days it hits me like, WOW im in Germany, than other days Im like Oh dang! Im actually on my mission lol. Its cool though. So my apartment is really awesome! Supposedly we have the biggest apartment in the mission. Its 2 storys so yeah its pretty big! I love it. but, yeah im having fun. Some days are better than others but, I try to make the best of everyday. My motto is there are only good days and great days. Never bad days.. So i strive to have a Great day but, occasionally you get those good days lol.

Well Thats all here. I hope all is well back at home and my brothers around the missions. Kyle I hope you got to Russia alright and dont get freaked out about your first couple days in the mission. If you cant understand anyone dont worry itll come. Im starting to get there! haha Everyone goes through it. Ben Ill see you monday or talk to you on the phone. LOL. Trev, derek, tanner, Nate, Pdog, Tmoney! Hope all is well in the field. and Jakey 3 more weeks left buddy!

Alright love you all
Tschüss!
Elder Popp

Glückstadt!

Hey Everyone!

 

Alright so this is my 2nd email im writing! I totally wrote a really long email and than and the bottom I went to press send and instead I pressed discard. So yeah i took 45 minutes writing that so it sucks hopefully i can remember everything.

 

Alright so i got my first area a town called Glückstadt. Its up north outside of Hamburg and in between Kiel. Tiny little town like smaller then Logandale. So probably about 15k people or less. haha So yeah its really cool. The town reminds me of the movie Italian Job because its got the tiny little cobblestone roads and house, appartments, stores all lined up on the road. Its really cool. since there are tiny roads that means the sidewalks are huge haha. More room for people to eat at restraunts that are outside and also people park their cars on the side walk. So this week in Glückstadt was Matjes Woche. Matjes is a dish they eat here in Germany but it started here in Glückstadt. Yeah so i had my first nasty eating experience. Matjesbrot. Is basically a sandwhich but you have the fish in it and the fish is completely raw. haha and its is completely disgusting haha You could litterly taste all the fishes bones and ugggh... Yeah enough of that. No more Matjesbrot for Elder Popp. lol

 

Alright so my companion is Elder Weitzel. He is from New Mexico. He is pretty cool. He walks super super fast. Like i jog to keep up with his so called POWER walk lol. He is rediculously fast. So i do my best to try and keep up. He is completely fluent in German, Im so jealous. I wish i could talk with people because he is kinda awkward when he talks to people. I actually feel kind of awkward when he starts talking to people. So to all my friends, he is basically like Jon Clark from school. Really nice kid but doesnt really know how to talk with people. So he has been a year out, so hopefully he can help me with my german so i can help talking with people. I love the guy tho, he is really funny!

 

The train stations are so cool here!! I literally ride a train everyday. They are so fun. We cover two citys Glückstadt and another town called Itzehoe. We go there alot more because it is bigger and we have more contacts and people to talk there. But yeah pretty much I got here and We have no progressing investigators, let alone investgators. No appointments. Nada. So we literally are finding every hour of the day. I probably walk about 20 miles a day. No joke. we have a walking measurer and we walked like 22 miles yesterday. So yeah good exercise. I went into the MTC weighing 206 and now I weigh 191. So im doing good Iv lost 15lbs! Yeah buddy! haha The first couple days here i had a mixture of Jetlag and i never had walked so much in my life. So it was rough but everything is smoothing out. Im started to understand people more everyday and am having fun.

My first door approach was so scary haha It was my first door approach and first slammed door! After I was like YEAH!! my first slammed door haha. but now i dont like it because I want to teach people.

 

There is a ton of tagging here. Like people are randomly spray painting pictures or signs on buildings. Its crazy and the government doesnt clean it up so its everywhere! Some of them are really cool though. Besides that Germany is really clean. Hardly ever trash on the ground its pretty clean. Know whats way weird here. The girls. seriously you can totally tell that they have blonde hair but have dyded it black and that they paint there nails black. they also wear tons of dark clothing its so weird. Id say about %50 of the girls here are like that. Its crazy. So i thinks its safe to say I will not be finding a Wife here in Germany hahahha. There is just alot of ant-nazi stuff here.

 

This coming week looks pretty promising. We actually have 2 eating appointments ( Its a Miracle lol.) and we met this guy at the train station named Farhan. He is from Afghanistan and has been in Germany for about a year now. He is really interested so we taught him the first lesson yesterday. He is really excited about the gospel and wants to bring like 4 of his other friends to the discussions. So im so excited. He speaks persian and English and he is trying to learn German. So we are teaching him german and he is teaching us some persian! haha so cool!

 

So we did have one teaching class. We teach English to the Germans here at the Church haha Alot of people come and we just talk about anything they want to learn about in English. So yeah we talked about Las Vegas this week. I wonder Why? haha So that was cool

 

Alright so best news of all. BEN and I are in the same zone!! So i called him like 2 days ago! It was so fun to talk with him. We caught up on everything and next saturday, We have zone interviews so i get to hang with him for a while! Im so excited. I get to see one of my brothas!!

 

Well Germany is so green! Like tons of meadows, trees, plants. Its just flat out green! Its amazing! I love it. I having fun here. just going to take a little getting used to walking, knocking, and talking with people. Ill be speaking german in no time though. Im learning at a much faster rate than in the MTC.

 

I love you and miss you all! I hope all is well!

Bis Nahste Mahl! (Till Next Time)

Elder Popp

First Week In Germany!

Alright I made it in Germany! After a total 21 hr flight so im pooped! It is awesome here. Very Green! Think of maryland but 10x more! Its kinda weird to see everything in German, but ill get used to it. I think im going to like it here. We arent doing much on the first day just checking in all of our stuff. Just took a nap but about to go take our stuff to the hotel and then tomorrow we are going to be sent to our new areas to meet our companions.. So i dont know where ill be yet in germany but we will see. Alright well just letting you guys know i made it and am safe. a little nervous but best way to do thing is to just jump into the deep in. So im ready. Well I love you guys and ben i look forward to seeing you soon my brother!! Tschuss

Elder Jonathan Popp Week 8

Houston We Have Liftoff!

Here we go!!

Last week of the MTC has finally come! Im so excited! The time here has just flown by its rediculous. So i got my flight plans to germany! I will be flying into JFK New York on the 13th, Monday and will have a 4 hour layover! So ill be able to talk for a little bit on the phone! So ill be calling around like 2-4 pm. So be ready!!! After New York we fly straight to Berlin! so we got awesome flight plans! Im really happy!

Alright so 2 weeks ago we got new german missionarys! I think i forgot to mention that haha If not, oh well you get to hear it twice. lol. But, its pretty cool. The older german missionarys like to help the younger guys. I always go in there and help the other elders with german... When they first got here we only spoke german to them haha it was so funny because they all had blank looks on their faces! haha It reminded me when I first got here haha and Ill probably have that same look when i get to german because im sure they speak really fast german. My german level is probably about a kindergartener's maybe 1st grader's (thats pushing it lol.) but its coming along i know itll take a while to learn the language.

So we talk 3 days out of the week only german now. Gotta go the whole day with only speaking german! Its pretty cool because you find out how much you can really speak. So thats a cool experience. Best way to learn a language is to speak it! Iv been working real hard on just speaking german as much as possible.

So dad you should be proud, I got 2 goals in soccer the other day haha Im improving! We have 2 british elders in our zone and they told me im good at being the goalie though because of the volleyball experience. I dont know if its true but hey ill take a compliment. I do have to say I have not been scored on yet haha

Lately, Iv been doing alot of studying outside. It is really soothing. I really like being outside i'v decided. Its nice and quiet and you can just think. Its really cool.

Yesterday was fast sunday. So i got up in sacrament and bore my testimony in German because it was basically our last sunday. I like bearing my testimony it sounds so sweet in German. haha German is such a cool language. I know without a doubt this is the mission for me! I feel like a secret agent speaking in German lol. Its legit!

Well, im starting to slowly pack things up. Not much happening, bout to go do laundry, write some letters, ect. All is well here! im really enjoying this so far. I can't wait for germany. Im nervous but, Hey the lord is on my side. Thats all i need. Well, I love and miss you all!

Tschüss,
Elder Popp

Elder Jonathan Popp Week 7

Was ist los!

 

Alright so this week has pretty much flown by! just like all the other weeks haha. This thursday I get my flight plans for germany! Im so excited!  Its like waiting for Christmas to come! haha  Im so ready to go to Germany. I'm ready to get out of this place... haha Im ready for action.

 

So last Tuesday we had another Apostle! hahah Elder Russel M. Nelson. Crazy right! We must need all the inspiration haha because we have had 4 apostles now! lol.  He gave a really good talk. I really enjoyed it. It really uplifts me when the Apostles come and talk about our callings. I feel real important when they talk lol.

 

Well, My MTC experience is coming to an end. I have 2 more weeks and im feeling ready to go. I like the MTC but, I couldn't stay here for another 9 weeks lol. Id go crazy.  Im ready to get out in the real world and teach some people. Its pretty much the same here in the MTC. We Study, Teach, Eat and Sleep. Errrday!

It has gone by fast and I'v learned alot. It is kinda sad to think that my MTC experience is almost over.  I had some good times here, but im ready to have better times in Germany. This is only the beginning. I can't wait to tear up Germany with Ben Gibson. 

I know Ben and I are gonna be companions. Ich weiß daß! Ich habe ein offenbarung empfangt! lol but, yeah im excited.  I feel for Kyle having to stay for 12 weeks to learn Russian.. hahah Ill just stick with my German.

 

I'v been playing soccer alot lately! I really enjoy it! before i hated it, I never liked running! but, we play like 4-5 times a week.

It is so much fun. It is always the Germans versus everyone else. Needless to say, we put a smackdown on them! lol.  Deutschland Für Immer! hahah. I never thought i'd enjoy soccer. Im sure im going to like it alot more when im in Germany. Soccer there is crazy!

It rains alot here in Utah. Everyone here from Utah says it normally doesnt rain this much. Everyone complains about it but I love it because we don't get much rain in vegas. Its gonna rain all the time in Germany. its going to be excellent (ausgezeichnet!).  Well not much to report...sorry for the short email! They will be longer once im in Germany! Only two more weeks! yeah buddy! Im so excited!

 

I hope all is well back in Vegas!

Ich liebe Sie!

Elder Popp

Week 6!

Hey Everyone!!

Alright so here I am about finished with my 6th week! crazy.. We are officially the oldest german district here at the MTC! Jeeze that went way fast! And Next wednesday we get our flight plans to Germany! Im so excited to go to germany its gonna be awesome! I hope I get to be somewhere north where Ben Gibson is! That would be so sweet!

So yeah Jakey Dinino is here!!! I was so excited when i saw him in the Cafeteria! It was awesome to see someone from home. I also Jacob Bingham and Robby McCombs! I missed these guys! So Sunday night me and Jakey sat together for our fireside and caught up on stuff back at home! It was so cool to here about the Pinewood Derby. GOOD JOB JOSHY! lol.

Alright so this week me and my companion got 2 baptism committments! It was awesome! even though these two investigators are role players... We seriously have been teaching them for like 5 weeks so It was a awesome feeling when they said they would be baptised! I was so happy, it was rediculous lol. I can't wait to have the feeling of a real baptism when i get out in the field! I gotta say though im still pretty nervous about knocking on my first door pretty soon haha!

The spirit here is so strong. It is like nothing, I have never felt before. Before my mission, I was never really into reading the Book of Mormon or the Bible and now Im mad I wasn't lol! I really enjoy studying the 4 gospels! It is so amazing what Christ went through for us. I can not thank him enough.

Ich Weiß daß mein Erlöser lebt!!!! und Er ist for uns Gestörben! Durch Jesus Christi Wir Können zu gott zurückkehren! Wir müssen glaube in Jesus Christi Haben! So Wir können mit Gott Leben weider! Ich liebe mein Himmlischer Vater und mein Erretter Jesus Christus.

My testimony could go on and on and on and on but theres just a little german for you guys haha. So me and kyle see eachother all the time haha its cool because we start speaking russian and german back to each other. Everyone says German sounds meaner, I guess lol. I think it sounds so cool!!! The language is coming along pretty good. The hard thing for me is the grammer. My grammer sucks! but that will come through out my mission!

So we have 27 new germans coming in wednesday! Im so excited! Were gonna "nur deutsch sprechen mit der nau Missionares!" (Only speak german to them) Its gonna be so fun! I really like helping the younger missionarys with german its pretty sweet!

Well not much else happening here! Just doing my laundry lol I hope all is well at home! I miss you guys so much but, I know that this is where I need to be! I learn so much everyday! beware imma be super smart when i come back so watch out!! :} hahah

Ich leibe Ihr,
Elder Popp
Hey Everyone!!

Week 5

Hey Guys,

Alright so im officially over the hump of the MTC. 5 weeks done baby! Its kinda crazy to think that in 4 weeks ill be knocking on doors in deutschland! I cant wait!

So this week has been pretty much the same haha but we had got some new germans in last week, so i got to take one of the new guys with me and teach a lesson haha it was pretty funny because i was told to make them talk in german. so i did... and needless to say he told our investigator that god was the devil hahahaha so i had to clear it up! lol good times.. It was cool tho because after we were done the new elder was like dang you can pretty much speak german but i cant really speak german haha but that made me feel real good!

I really like helping the new kids, they always come in asking how to put sentences together and how to say things haha Its pretty cool, helps me in my german as well answering them! So i no longer need notes to speak german, i am working on a study journal right now! Its basically my version of preach my gospel and i add a bunch of scriptures to them so i can pull them up in lessons. I made my journal in complete english so i can translate it into german! Its been working real well because i can now express myself and give my own insight on things.

I really like searching for scriptures. I have found over 30 scriptures just on the 1st lesson ..The Restoration... Its awesome cuz when our investigator has a question, im just like BAM, i gotta scripture haha Its legit!

So last Tuesday we had ANOTHER APOSTLE!! Niel A. Anderson haha (I know all my missionary friends are jealous right now, cept kyle cuz your here as well lol) But yeah awesome talk! you can feel the spirit so strong when these apostles walk in its amazing!

Well me and my companion are getting along real good now. He has really improved, iv been trying to help him in our lessons and it is paying off really well. I always say... haben sie ein gedanke? ( do you have a thought) in our lessons and he starts saying his thoughts! Its awesome! Things are going real well now, im starting to like this, but i know in a couple weeks ill have to say good bye to these guys and thats gonna suck!

Im just in such awe how much im learning! Its amazing, my german is getting stronger day by day and its a good feeling when you go into lessons and you can literally say everything you want and they understand you and you understand them! so awesome!

Well all is good here in Missionary prison haha but im having fun! Jakey I cant wait for you to come in on wednesday! i wont be hosting but, i will be looking for you! I love all of you and Sie Sind am Beste!

Tschus,

Elder Popp